Signal means



June 26, 1923.

. 1,460,324 N. J. HOOD SIGNAL MEANS Filed Nov. 18, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet lJune 26, 1923. 1,460,324

N. J. HOOD SIGNAL MEANS Filed Nov. 18. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 mvau'ronATTORNEY WITNESS June 26, 1923.

N. J. HOOD SIGNAL MEANS Filed Nov. 18. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTQRPatented June 26, 1923 iaeszr NOAH J. noon, on vanes, ALABAMA.

SIGNAL MEANS.

Application filed November 18, 1922. Serial No. 601,806.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatl, NOAH J. 11001), a

citizen of the United States, residing at Vance, in the county ofTuscaloosa and State of Alabama, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Signal Means, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to signal means, the general object of theinvention being to provide means for notifying the engineer of a trainthat another train is approaching around a curve or the like and alsofor notifying persons at railroad crossings that a train is approachingthe crossing.

Another object of the )invention is to provide means for returning thesignal means to inactive position after the train passes the dangerpoint.

This invention also consists in certaln other features of constructionand in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to behereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawlngsand specifically pointed out in the appended 7 claims.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to theaccompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like orcorresponding parts throughout the several views, and in Wl1iCl12-Figure 1 is a plan view showing the invention used at a railroadcrossing.

Figure 2 is an elevation of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional View through the suipport takenimmediately above the arms therein.

Figure 5 is a plan view showing a curved part of a track with theinvention in use for notifying an engineer of the approach of anothertrain.

Figure 6 is a similar view but showing a modification.

Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a modification.

In these views A indicates the railroad crossing and B the track. Astandard 1 is rotatably mounted in a support 2 which is placed along thetrack adjacent the crossing. This standard carries a signal disc 3 and alamp 4. A spring 6 tends to hold the standard in a position where therays of light from the lamp and the disc cannot be seen by a personapproaching thetrack along the road as the edge of the disc will bepresented to such a person. A lever 5 is placed adjacent the track, oneon each side of the crossing at an appreciable distance therefrom, theselevers'being adapted to be struck by apart on a train approachingthecrossing. These levers are connected with a double lever 6 on thestandard by the flexible members 7 and the 'springs ti. "When. altrainapproaches a crossing in either direction a part thereon will strike thelever 5 which will act through the connections 7 and 8 to swing thestandard 1 to a position where the disc can be seen by a personapproaching the track and the standard will be held in this position bya latch 8 or an arm 6", connected with the lever 6 and which is adaptedto engage the projection 6 on a crank shaft 9, the crank and projectionof which being held in raised position by a spring 10. As

soon as the train reaches the crossing it will strike the crank and thuspartlyrotate the shaft 9 soas to move the projection 6 out of engagementwith the latch 8 and thus permit the spring 10 to return the standard tonormal position, thus hiding the disc and indicating that the crossingis free. The lamp can be used at night and will act the same as thedisc.

Figure 5 shows a curved part of a track provided wit-h my signal meansso that an engineer of one train will be notified that another train isahead of him around the curve. The standards 1 are placed at the ends ofthe curve and the levers 5' are located adjacent these standards and thecon nections are so arranged that a train at one end of the curve willoperate the standard at the other end and vice versa.

Figures 6 and 7 show a modification wherein a tubular upright 11 isplaced adjacent the track at each end of the curve and the disc 13 hasits stem 13 connected to a weight 13* which is slidably mounted in theupright and this weight engaged by the upper and lower springs 16 sothat when the weight is pulled downwardly and then released the weightand the springs will cause the disc to bob up and down and thus appearand disappear at the enlarged top of the standard or upright. The meansfor operating this device consists of a lever 14 which is connected withthe weight by means of the cable 15 and the spring 18. In this case noreleasing means are necessary as the disc will come to rest within theenlarged end of the upright and out of sight as soon as the Weightceases to vibrate. It will of course be understood that thismodification can be used at a railroad crossing.

It is thought from the foregoing descrip tion that the advantages andnovel features of my invention will be readily apparent.

I desire it to be understood that I may make changes in the constructionand in the combination and ar 'angement of the several parts, providedthat such changes fall within the scopeot the appended claims.

Whatv I claim is 1. Signal means of the class described comprising astandard, signal means carried thereby, a casing in which the standardis rotatably mounted, an arm on the standard, a latch carried by thearm, a rod rotatably mounted in the standard, a keeper thereon forengaging the latch for holding the signal in operative position, aspring for holding the standard in inoperative position, a springconnected with the rod for holding the keeper in engaging position and apart on the rod adapted to be engaged by a train for moving the rod tothrow the keeper thereon out of engagement with the latch.

2. Signal means of the class described comprising a tubular member, aspring actuated member therein, a signal connected with the springactuated member and means actuated by a train. forvibrating the springto cause the signal to appear and disappear at the top of the tubularmember.

. In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

NOAH J. HOOD.

